According to new national polling data from EdChoice, parents and the general public support education choice policies, but awareness of certain policies remains low.
For example, according to the polling data, school parents report 72% support for the federal scholarship tax credit, and a strong majority of the general population (61%) do as well. For education choice advocates, this is great news, but awareness is a challenge.
Among school parents, only 26% say they have heard a lot or a great deal about the federal scholarship tax credit. Among the general population, it’s even lower: only 17% say they’ve heard a lot or a great deal.
The pattern continues. School parents strongly support many education choice policies, with 84% supporting education savings accounts, 82% supporting tax credit scholarships, 79% supporting school vouchers, and 75% supporting charter schools. Yet awareness of these is also low. For instance, 50% of parents said they were unsure if their state had an ESA, 45% said they were unsure if there were school vouchers, and 28% were unsure about charter schools.
This issue isn’t just a national phenomenon. We’ve seen it in Utah as well, both for awareness around Utah’s education savings account and its open enrollment law.
That’s part of the reason why Sutherland Institute created Utah Schools Navigator. We want to help parents understand policy terms and what exists in their state. See below for some FAQs directly from the Utah Schools Navigator’s “Learn” section.
What is a charter school?
A charter school is a public school with a contract (or charter) that allows increased flexibility and innovation in exchange for certain oversight features. These schools are free of charge and are open to the public, though admission is not guaranteed.
Charter schools may use lotteries to determine which students to accept when applications exceed the number of available seats. Each charter school has its own application requirements and deadlines.
What is a microschool?
A microschool is a small multi-age learning environment of about 5-15 students that provides more personalized education. These can be in homes or other places. There is a wide variety of microschool features.
What is open enrollment?
Open enrollment is a policy that allows students to transfer from one public district school to another. Every student is assigned to a public district school based on their ZIP code, but that school is not always the best fit for them. Utah’s open enrollment law allows parents to enroll their child in a school outside their assigned school or district if capacity is available. Each district office creates its open enrollment policy and has the authority to accept or deny students. Every district is required to post an updated capacity report on its website so parents know whether there is likely to be space for a given year.
What is an education savings account?
An education savings account (ESA) allows parents to access a scholarship funded with state dollars for state-approved education expenses, creating a personalized education for their child. To receive an ESA, parents must apply. Utah’s ESA is called the Utah Fits All Scholarship. To learn more, visit Odyssey or Utah Education Fits All.
What is a voucher?
A voucher is a state-funded financial subsidy that parents can direct toward the private school tuition of their choice. Utah currently has the Carson Smith Scholarship, which is a voucher, but it is phasing into a new tax credit scholarship over the next few years. To learn more about it, visit the Utah State Board of Education.
What is a tax credit scholarship?
A tax credit scholarship is a policy that gives families scholarship money for education expenses, which is paid for by the donations of individuals or businesses that receive a full or partial tax credit for donating to a scholarship granting organization (SGO). To learn about Utah’s tax credit scholarship for students with special needs called the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship, visit the Utah State Board of Education or Children First Education Fund.
What should I know about the new federal tax credit scholarship?
The Education Freedom Tax Credit, or Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), was passed in 2025. This program aims to increase education choice by offering scholarships to families nationwide by incentivizing individual taxpayers with up to a $1,700 tax credit for contributions to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). Utah has opted in to the program. Individuals can begin donating and receiving tax credits starting January 1, 2027 (for taxes filed in 2028).
What is an LEA?
The term LEA stands for “local education agency,” which is either a school district or a charter school itself.
Conclusion
While parents don’t always know the policies and programs available in their states, they support the policies when surveyed. In time, we hope more parents have the policy knowledge and the full menu of options in view as they navigate their role as decision-makers for their children’s education.
